Cooking

bethrs

Ok- strange question, but does the nutrition value of foods change significantly when you cook them- but don't add anything.

For instance, my dry oatmeal says 1/2 cup is 150 cals, does that stay the same after I add water (which I know is 0 cals) and cook it?

Also, I was trying to do the math on my air popped popcorn last night and I knew that one serving of unpopped was 135 cals, but that turned into a boatload of popcorn- does that huge bowl still only have 135 cals? [I did NOT add oil or butter or anything except some popcorn salt, which is bad for me but has 0 calories] I am confused because I only indulged in 3 cups, but that wound up being nearly 100 calories according to all the entries in the database and I probably have 3 or 4 cups left. Seems like something's not adding up right. :huh:

I'm a smart woman. I should know these things. I really would think that since I'm not adding anything the nutrition info would stay the same, but hey, I'm a psychologist (in training) not a nutritionist.
Thanks for the info. :embarassed:

SHBoss1673

heat does destroy some nutrients, not as many as you'd think, but it does. Also, when you cook with water, some foods have water soluble vitamins leeched out of them (and minerals too), but again, not as many as you'd think. Also some nutrients can be destroyed by sunlight (although others are enhanced by it), best to look up what happens when you cook specific foods as they are all different, there's no 1 right answer here.

Popcorn for instance, is better cooked in sunflower or canola oil than air popped (believe it or not). The combination of the two foods actually enhances each other and allows for certain vitamins to be transported easier (think, fat soluble vitamins and minerals).

bethrs

Whoa. Thanks for the info. I always appreciate learning a little something on here. :happy:

ilike2moveit

If your popcorn says 1/2 cup of kernels is 135 calories and when it's popped it is a bowlful then that whole bowl is still 135 calories. Same with oatmeal. 1/2 a cup looks more like a cup when cooked because it expands etc. Hopefully I answered your question.